Workmen's advocate., 1887-04-23

we going to do about it? Under the present system, absolutely nothing, ex- cept to grin and bear it. We have no legal remedy and We are too cowardly to apply a natural, speedy and effective remedy, viz; to hang every une of them who abuses the trusts coniided to him. The amusing absurdity of. the matter is, that not only can we Tot discharge them, or m any manner get rid of them, but we must pay them larger salaries than any useful mechanic gets, not for ser vices rendered, but for the most infamous ingrattude, the grossest injustice and the greatest injuries in the power of man to intlict.
 What beneficial society or other or ganization would electa committee and pay them high wages, and then have this committee frame laws and perform acts the very opposite of that which was expected from them? What society would divorce itself from all control over committees, or a deciding vote on their acts, or would not punish or dis miss for neglect of duty on the part of any member of it's committee? How much more should it punish and degrade any of it's appointees who would sell the organization to its enemies, betray it's secret work, islander its principles, abuse its membership and defy it's power?
 No individual organization would tol- crate any such proceedings on the part of its members, particularly those whom 1t had honored and rewarded But are not the interests honor, stability and welfare of society as whole greater than those of any of it's parts? Is not the whole equal to the sum of all its parts; Logically, the State is therefore entitled to the best service, the truest allegiance, the highest honor and purest patriotism that any citizen can render, and he who, having been selected to fill an office of trust or honor, fails to fulfill his duty to the State is traitor, liar and thief.
 From the foregoing, any person of candor and intelligence will see and ad- init the necessity of radical change in our present system of government.
 l. The abolition of the one man pow CT, the presidency, and with it the veto.
 2. The abolition of the senate. an oli- garchy and impeachment to free govern ment by the people.
 5. The adoption of one legislative body by direct vote of the people-the House of Representative
 1. The manner of election, viz: in stead of party politics and districts, have proportional or preferential representa- tion, whereby the largest possible num- Der of citizens shall be directly repre- sented by men of their own choosing.
 }. The adoption of the Referendum, whereby all laws shall emanate from the people, and be referred back to them for adoption or rejection.
 6. The Imperative Mandate, whereby all representatives, officers, agents and servants who do not carry out the will of the people, can be immediately re- called, and others elected to fill the va cancies.
 We believe that if even these few mod est and conservative changes were in augurated, that at least one-half of our present governmental iniquities would be absolutely impossible of perpetration; then monopolists would not nominate candidates whom they know are certain of defeat, and who, if elected, could pass no laws in the interest of their mas ters, unless santioned by majority of all the voters, and then it would cost too much to buy; in fact the majority are too honest to be purchased. The people, if not hoodwinked or misIed by interest ed and deSignlng men, are generally right, and it is an exceedingly pleasant task to record that in nearly every case where proposition or law was submit ted to a general vote of the people it received the sanction or condemnation which it deserved.
 With these changes adopted, legisla- ton in favor of capital as against labor would cease, and the trade of the poli- tician and lobbyist become one of the lost arts The exactions of monopolists from the defenseless producer, and the exploitation of labor by irresponsible capital in the hands of individuals and corporations would be at least curtailed, if not entirely destroyed.